Monday, April 28, 2014

That one time? In Paris?

I'm thinking we're going to have to break this into a few posts, and i'm thinking that since the Eiffel Tower is so iconic, it gets to be post number 1. And since it's what we did on day number 1, well, that makes even more sense.

After a 7.5 hour flight we arrived in Vincennes, the smaller town we stayed in that was 10 minute train ride outside of city. Street markets, family friendly, real sense of local life...and after a week it became "our" bakery, and "our" flower stall. At night, after being in the city all day, it was us and the locals taking the metro back "home."

Day 1 in Paris looked like this: Find Eiffel Tower. Stare at long line. Marvel at structure. Walk to Rue Cler toting Rick Steve's guide, eat beautiful and colorful quiche at Cafe la Marche, because Rick Steve's recommended it, walk Champs Elysees, hope boyfriend will buy you Louis Vuitton purse (he won't, which you knew yet still hoped ) but he will buy you Laduree macarons (which are heaven and well worth the line) discover your new love of all things pistachio. Walk pedestrian tunnel to Arch de Triomphe. Eat a macaron before you think about taking pictures (dumb), walk back to Eiffel Tower. Sit on bench in garden below. Sit there. Sit there. Wait for darkness. Sit there. Wait for more darkness so that it will sparkle. Wonder (stress) what times the metro goes until, run to metro. Write in little travel diary all about your day (boyfriend will ask what you plan to do with this, yet he will insist you do that every night before you forget). Marvel. You're in Paris, my friend.

I loved that we discovered the Eiffel tower the way we did, not hovering above any other structure or seeing it from across the way, but sudden, and in full view. I had read that the best views of the tower can be seen from the Trocadero, so we took the train to that exit and turned to find ourselves face to face with it. First the selfies, then the sillies.

We didn't go to the top of the tower because what i really wanted was to have the tower actuallyin my pictures. Sitting below the tower, watching it light up, was one of the top three things for me on this trip. It was just that moment that makes it real, that you are on vacation, to somewhere new and exciting, crossing another spot off your bucket list. Know what i mean?

37 comments:

My favorite place in Paris! I truly love the Eiffel Tower. Looking at it, standing below it, from the river or anywhere in Paris it just delights the eye. I enjoyed my trip to the top but totally get why you enjoyed being under it with the lights on. It was the true meaning of a dream come true for me!!So happy to see your photos! hugs, Linda

We're supposed to go to Paris in July but plane tickets are SOOOO expensive, I'm rethinking our decision! :( We'll only have one week to travel but I've never been out of the country so I really want to! Thoughts?

I had to come by from the Charm of HOme when I saw this photo - isn't it the most enchanting city?For many years we stayed just around the corner from Rue Cler - so grabbed my breakfast ( tartine ) there every morning !We used to go yearly sometimes twice a year for business and I miss it terribly!What a beautiful post - with gorgeous photos !!!XOXO

It's been ages since my husband and I were in Paris. Just as our tour bus pulled up to the Eiffel huge hail stones began falling. Sadly, we never were able to get off the bus. It is a lovely site to behold from many angles around the city.

I LOVE your post. LOVE you Eiffel Tower pics. La Tour Eiffel at the blue hour!!!!! WOW! Perfect. I enjoyed all your pics. Wish we had read our Rick Steve book about best place to make pictures. I made a 100 or more and didn't get the shot I wanted. Maybe I will have another chance. Laduree macaroons are beautiful and taste wonderful.

Wow... That is so cool! I have never been to Paris, but it sounds amazing. You aren't kidding, that tower looks incredibly massive. I thought it would be smaller.Your macarons look delicious! I want to eat one. :)I am so jealous of your trip!

I love Paris and your photos made me swoon:) Yes, there is something so magical about the Eiffel Tower...When we went to Paris last time, we just spent a whole day picnicking around it and chatting away with friends. Such a great spot. Kisses and have a lovely day. xo

Enchanting! Everything about Paris makes my heart sing. I went to the top of the ET my first visit to Paris, since I've savored the view from various vantage points. Last time in Paris I went to the top of the Arch de Triomphe for the first time. Well worth the climb up the stairs, though a thunderstorm hit just as I walked out. ;-)Thanks for sharing your photos. I'll be back for more.

This post has me all kinds of emotional. I long to go back to Paris and visit my best friend, see all of these sites and do the things I didn't get to do. I unfortunately didn't see the Eiffel Tower up close at night, and I only vent to one side of it. I had in my mind the entire time leading up to my trip to go on both sides of it, but it slipped my mind as I was captivated by it's beauty. I will be back again!! Lovely post!

We've gotten to go to Paris, too, and you're right! The Eiffel Tower is awesome!! Thanks for posting these great photos. Great memories! Thanks, also, for the visit to my blog and the reassurance the plastic 'trash' won't hurt my lettuce plants! I'll be looking forward to your next posts from Paris!

How fabulous! Great photos! I absolutely love the shot with the hand holding the Eiffel Tower!Is that the Laduree on Champs Elysees? We were in Paris last fall and stayed across from that shop- so much to do and Sadly we didn't get to half our to-see list - hopefully we'll be back!